Stilt Sandpiper

(Calidris himantopus)

Where: SAndbridge, VA • Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Notes: This close-up was shot from such close range just after it was performing it's "broken wing act". I have witnessed other birds such as the American Woodcock and the Killdeer (most famous for this act) do this too. Several different species do this to defer the attention of what they feel is a threat to their nesting area or young. They usually allow the danger to get in fairly close while they flop around on the ground, make noise, and stick a wing out as if it were broken or injured. Then as the would be predator approaches, it would limp off in a direction away from its nest and eventually fly away. For some reason this bird did all that for a little while, but eventually sat still in one spot and did not fly off, allowing me to closely approach it. After it finally flew away, I looked around for a nest but did not find one.